Remotely steered troller

ABSTRACT

A powered watercraft having a fishing pole mounted thereon. The craft is launched and is remotely controlled by a stationary operator and is powered by rechargeable electric batteries which drive an electric motor to turn a propeller. A retractable line extends from the operator to a directional control mast on the craft such that a tug or jerk on the line connected to the mast, from any direction, operates a mechanical linkage, thereby changing the relative position of a directional rudder beneath the rear portion of the craft. Each time the mast is pivoted, the position of the rudder is changed through one step in a series of indexed angular attitudes. Thus, the direction of travel of the craft is remotely controlled by the operator, pivoting the mast to the extent necessary to achieve a desired direction.

United States Patent [191 Bonham [451 Feb. 26, 1974 REMOTELY STEEREDTROLLER [76] Inventor: Ralph D. Bonham, 381 W. Center, Pleasant Grove,Utah 84062 [22] Filed: May 28, 1971 '21 Appl. No.: 147,755

[52] US. Cl. 43/26.l, 46/93 [51] lnttCl AOlk 85/06 [58] Field of Search43/26.1;' 46/93, 94, 244

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 1,850,296 3/1932Vermeulen 43/26.1 2,693,047 11/1954 Lumsden 43/26.l 2,834,152 5/1958Lambert 46/93 3,106,796 10/1963 Friedland.. 43/26.1

Primary Examiner-Warner l-l. Camp Attorney, Agent, or Firm--B. DeonCriddle [57] ABSTRACT A powered watercraft having a fishing pole mountedthereon. The craft is launched and is remotely controlled by astationary operator and is powered by rechargeable electric batterieswhich drive an electric motor to turn a propeller. A retractable lineextends from the operator to a directional control mast on the craftsuch that a tug or jerk on the line connected to the mast, from anydirection, operates a mechanical linkage, thereby changing the relativeposition of a directional rudder beneath the rear portion of the craft,

Each time the mast is pivoted, the position of the rudder is changedthrough one step in a series of indexed angular attitudes. Thus, thedirection of travel of the 'craft is remotely controlled by theoperator, pivoting the mast to the extent necessary to achieve a desireddirection. I

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIE D FEB 2 61874 SHEET 1 0F 2 FIG 2 FIG3 :M R A mH m WB D.. H P L A R ATTORNEY PATENTEDFEBZBIQM 4 SHEET 2 BF 2FIG 8 1 REMOTELY STEERED TROLLER BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the invention This invention relates to remotely controlledapparatus for off-shore troll fishing.

2. Prior Art In fishing it is highly desirable to position bait or alure where fish are located and to make the bait or lure move in such amanner that it effectively attracts a fish. For the shore fisherman,this generally involves casting of the bait or lure beyond the shallowsproximate to shore to deeper water. If an artificial lure is used, thelure is cast out without too much difficulty and then is reeled backthrough the shallows into shore. If a soft bait is used, great skill andcare is required to cast the bait so that it will land intact. In eithercase, the lure may tangle or-a hook may catch as the line is reeled in.

Numerous devices have been proposed in the past to enable a shorefishermanto place his lure or bait or to give a trolling action. Devicessuch as those shown by U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,804,712, 3,045,381, 2,803,914,1,401,096 and others, each employ a driving means which is usually anelectric motor, to move a lure or bait connected to a fishing line andhaving a hook thereon, through water to attract fish. No means areprovided on these prior art devices to control their direction of travelso the fisherman using them simply points them in the desired directionof travel and turns them loose.

A rudder is provided on the device shown in US. Pat. No. 2,726,471 andUS. Pat. No. 3,099,099 shows a device having a rudder which isfrictionally locked in position by the operator prior to launch tobetter steer the craft after launch. US. Pat. No. 3,203,131 shows amotor operated watercraft with a rudder that is connected by a line tothe shore. This arrangement is intended to allow an operator to controlmovement of the craft by manipulation of the line to the right or leftas the craft moves away from the operator. It does not allow the craftto be directed in a path back towards the operator.

US. Pat. Nos. 1,805,296, 2,693,047 and 3,106,796 each show a motordriven fishing craft with means for remotely controlling the directionof travel from shore. The controlling means used with each of thesedevices consists of a plurality of lines extending from the shore to thecraft and connecting directly to a rudder arrangement. A pull on oneline positions the rudder in one position while a pull onthe other linechanges the rudder position.

To my knowledge there has not heretofore been known a controlarrangement whereby an operator on shore can selectively move the rudderof a craft to one of a number of indexed positions, thereby positivelysteering the craft merely with a tug or 'pull on a single line.

Neither, so far as I am aware has there heretofore been known a remotelycontrolled fishing craft that is stable for control purposes, economicalto build and having a hull design that allows it to travel, even inshallow water and onto a shoreline.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION whereby it lends itself to stable deep orshallow water operations. The hull design prevents tipping of thewatercraft when a pull is applied through a controlmast extendingupwardly therefrom and a remote operator can, therefore, pull on acontrol line connected to a directional control means. The control lineis connected through an indexing assembly to a rudder projecting frombeneath the craft and each time the line is sufficiently jerked therudder position is changed, thereby changing the direction of travel ofthe craft.

Principal objects of the present invention are'to provide a steerablewatercraft that has means thereon for trolling a fishing line behind andfor returning any fish caught on the line to the operator.

Other objects are to provide a single line operated directional controlmeans whereby a significantpull on the line will actuate a means toposition and maintain a rudder in one of a number of indexed, cyclicpositions and wherein repeated significant pulls will sequentially stepthe rudder through the entire cycle of indexed positions.

Other objects are to provide a remotely controlled watercraft having awide bottom incorporating a hull having protected propeller means, anddesigned to accommodate both deep and shallow water conditions and to beeasily moved onto a gradually decreasing shoreline. v

Principal features of the present invention include a remotelycontrolled watercraft carrying a releasably.

the two portions of the hull. The catamaran hull construction providessufficient stability to keep the watercraft from tipping over when atugging or jerking force is applied to or through a control mastprojecting from the top of the craft.

The control mast projecting from the top surface of the watercraft mayhave one end of a control line connected to it, with the other end ofthe line being connected to a reel held by an operator. A sharp pull orjerk by the operator of the control line will tilt the mast, which ismounted to be universally tilted in any direction, to operate a ruddercontrol means, thereby swinging the rudder to one of a number of pre-setindexed positions. Oncepositioned in an index position the rud der ismaintained in that position until such time as the control mast is againtilted. Alternatively, the line may be connected througha mast, directlyto an indexing mechanism through which a rudder position is set.

The watercraft is driven by a propeller that is turned by an electricmotor. Power is supplied to the motor from-rechargeable storagebatteries which provide an extended period of operation betweenrechargings.

Switch means are provided at both the bow and the stern of thewatercraft, either of which will start or stop the motor. Thus, thecraft can be pointed in a general desired direction of travel and themotor can be turned on with the stern switch. Then, after trolling andeither with or without a fish on the trolling pole, the craft can bebrought back to the operator who can turn the motor off with the bowswitch as the craft approaches him.

The watercraft housing is preferably constructed of a lightweightplastic which is molded to provide an attractive, functional andwatertight hull. The catamaran portions of the hull are tapered fromgreater to lesser height dimensions from bow to stem of the craft so itcan more easily travel in shallow water areas and can be directed onto asloping bank without causing damage to the craft. The propeller andpropeller shaft are protected by a cage shield and by the twin catamaranportions of the hull.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description and drawings, disclosing what ispresently contemplated as being best modes of the invention.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the watercraft ofthe present invention as seen from the top and side, showing the controlmast extending through the top covering and with a trolling pole, shownfragmentarily, releasably mounted on the stern of the craft;

FIG. 2, a perspective view of the bottom of the craft as seen from oneside;

FIG. 3, a front elevation view of the craft shown with the top coveringremoved;

FIG. 4, vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 with thewall of the control mast housing partially cut away for clarity, andwith alternate positions of the components shown in broken lines;

FIG. 5, a somewhat schematic, perspective view of the rudder controlmeans of the embodiment of FIGS. l-4;

FIG. 6, a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.1, showing the rudder assembly;

FIG. 7, a top plan view of another embodiment of a rudder control means;and

FIG. 8, a vertical section view taken on the line 88 of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings:

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1,-6 the remotely steered troller, showngenerally as a watercraft 10, includes a bottom hull portion 11, havingtwin catamaran hull portions 11a and 11b, and a top hull portion 12,which is clamped to the bottom hull portion 11. The catamaran hullportions have a lesser height at the bow of the craft l and expand to agreater height at the stern of the craft. This design holds the bow ofthe craft high and allows for operation in both deep and shallow watersand allows the craft to be easily powered close to a shore or onto aslopingbank' area, without damaging the bottom hull portion 11. Top hullportion 12 has holes 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d formed therein to accommodate an upwardly extending mast l4, electrical switches 15a and 15band an outlet 16 for connection to a battery charger. As best seen inFIG. 2, a resilient,

channeled sealing strip 17 is fitted over mating flanges lle and l2e ofthe bottom and top hull portions 11 and 12, respectively, to provide anessentially waterproof seal between the hull portions.

The mast 14 extends from a mast housing, 18, within which is mounted therudder control means, shown generally at 19, FIGS. 4 and 5, to behereinafter described in greater detail. An arm 20 extends from the topof mast l4 and is mounted to swivel with respect to the top of the mast.A strong line 21, shown fragmentarily, has one end connected to the freeend of arm 20 and the other end connected to a reel on a fishing pole(not shown) that is held by an operator. The operator changes thedirection of travel of the watercraft, as will be explained, by pullingon and tilting mast 14, through the line and the swiveling arm 20. Acoupling 14 a joins the mast to a threaded base post 22 that extendsupwardly from a base 23. The base 23 is circular and rests on a circularsaddle mount 24. Saddle mount 24 is fixed to the top of the mast housing18.

A rod 25 has a ball 25a on its uppermost end that fits within a socket23a of base 23. The universal coupling between ball 25a and the socket23a allows free lateral movement of the rod 25 with respect to base 23and the post 22. The end of rod 25, opposite to ball 25a is secured tothe end of a driver rod 26 by a coupling 26a. Another coupling 26bsecures one end of a link 27 to the lower end of driver rod 26. The link27 has a ball 27a on its other end and the ball 27a is journaled intoand fits within a socket 28a of an arm 28.

Arm 28 is pivotally connected by an axle 29 to the side walls of masthousing 18 and a bracket 30 is rigidly secured to the end of arm 28opposite axle 29. Bracket 30 has two legs 30a and 30b extending at rightangles with respect to each other. Leg 30a is connected to arm 28 andleg 30b is secured to a spring guide rod 31. The lower end of rod 31 isconnected by a pin 31a to bracket leg 30b, and the other end of the rodis journaled to slide through a bracket 32 that extends from a side wallof mast housing 18. A spring 33 surrounds rod 31 and in its expandedcondition extends between pin 31a and bracket 32.

When mast 14 is pivoted, for example to the position shown in phantom inFIG. 4, rods 25 and 26 and link 27 are raised, thereby swinging arm 28clockwise around axle 29. This'elevates spring guide rod 31, andcompresses spring 33. Whenthe tilting force on mast I4 is released, thespring 33 acts to return the mast to a vertical attitude.

A spring-type roller mounting arm 34'has one end rigidly attached tobracket 30 such that it extends perpendicular to leg 30b. A roller 35has one end of an axle 35a (FIG. 5) journaled therethrough, the otherend of the axle extending through and being secured to the free end ofthe roller mounting arm 34. I

As mast 14 is tilted to raise rods 25 and 26 and link 27 and to pivotarm 28 upwardly, arm 34 and the roller 35 are also raised. As the rolleris raised it engages an abrupt surface 36a of one of a number (hereshown as four) of cam surfaces 36 spaced around one side of a wheel 37.Continued movement of the roller upwardly turns the wheel until theabrupt surface is rotated away from the roller. The wheel has thus beenturned one index step. The wheel is yieldably held in this position by aleaf spring 38-that is fixed at 38a 'to a bracket 38b secured to themast housing and that has a curved portion 38c that rides on theperiphery of the wheel and that moves into notches 37a spaced around thewheel periphery. As the wheel is moved to an indexed position by theupwardly moving roller 35 the spring 38 moves into a notch 37a to holdthe wheel against reverse rotation as the roller moves back to itsstarting position. When the tilting pressure on the mast is released,spring 33 moves the arm 34 and roller 35 down at the same time it movesthe mast back to its upright attitude. Since arm 34 is of spring-type ityields in a direction transverse to the up and down movement of the armto allow the roller to move down across the next cam surface 36 in theindexing cycle, to a position where it snaps beneath the abrupt surfaceof that cam surface.

Wheel 37 rotates around an axle 37b that extends between walls of themast housing 18 and has a pin 39 that protrudes perpendicularly from theside of the wheel opposite the cam surface 36 and that is eccentricallypositioned with respect to the axis of the wheel. Pin 39 extends into aslot 40 that is formed in a shift arm 41. As wheel 37 turns and pin 39rotates about axle 37b the orbiting motion of the pin is translated intoa swinging movement of the free end 41a of shift arm 41. The other endof arm 41 is journaled about an axle 41b that extends between and thatis connected to opposite side walls of the mast housing 18. A ruddercontrol rod 42 is pivotally connected to the free end 410 of the shiftarm and the control rod extends rearwardly to the stern of the craft.

A rudder control arm 43, FIG. 6, is pivotally connected at 44 to the endof control rod 42, at the stern of the craft. The rudder control arm 43is frictionally secured to the top of a rudder shaft 45 that extendsupwardly between the catamaran portions of the hull, through a bearingblock 46 and into the craft housing. A rudder blade 47 is fixed to andextends from the lower end of shaft 45 and a nut 48 threaded onto thetop of the shaft holds the arm on the shaft. Thus, as arm 41 is movedback or forth, in response to movement of the indexing wheel 37, thecontrol rod 42 turns the control arm 43 a corresponding amount about theaxis formed by shaft 45.

A bolt and nut unit 49 extends through the flanges lle of the hull tosecure oneside of the block 46 beneath the hull and a shaft 50 havinganother rudder blade 51 thereon extends through the block and the bodymembers to have a nut 51a threaded thereon. The nut clamps the flangeslle and block 46 between the blade 51, which can be set in any desiredposition, but which adds stability to travel of the craft, and the nut,thereby holding the bladein a set position.

Power for the watercraft operation is supplied by rechargeable storagebatteries 55a and 55b, FIG. 1, that are fitted into appropriate recessesin the deck of the bottom hull section. Electrical wiring connects thebatteries through either the switch b mounted near the stern of thecraft on a plate 57 or the switch 150 near the bow, for example, on themast housing 18, to an electric motor 59. Electric motor 59 is rigidlymaintained at an angle with respect to the deck of the bottom portion11, by brackets 59a and 59b. This angular arrangement allows a propellershaft 60, FIG. 2, which is directly connected to the output shaft of themotor,

to extend straight through the upper and lower decks of bottom portion11 to a propeller 61 positioned between the catamaranhull portions. Apropeller protection cage 62, fixed to the hull, surrounds the propellerand shaft to protect the propeller. A casing 63 surrounds the propellershaft and extends from the motor to the propeller to keep the water fromdamaging the drive unit.

The plug-in outlet 16, electrically connected to the batteries 55a and55b, is also mounted on plate 57 to receive a plug from a batterycharger, not shown.

Another embodiment of rudder control means 70 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.As shown, the control means is mounted to the deck shown fragmentarilyat 71. The control means 70 is mounted on a central axle 72, whichextends through slot 73a in one leg of an arm 73,

an indexing wheel 74, a shift arm 75 and that is threaded into the deck71 of the craft. A spring 76 has one end (not shown) fixed to deck 71and its opposite end connected to shift arm 75 at 75a. Dogs 77a and 77bare pivotally mounted on the shift arm at 78a and 78b, respectively, andsprings 79a and 79b each having one end secured to shift arm 75, arepositioned to bias the dogs 77a and 77b such that teeth 77c and 780respectively formed thereon are constantly held against the periphery ofwheel 74. Wheel 74 has a series of abrupt cam notches 80 spaced indiagonally opposite relationship therearound, and, as will be explained,the dogs 77a and 77b engage the abrupt surfaces to turn the wheel.

Wheel 74 has additional spaced depressions 81 in the bottom face thereofand a pin 82. which extends perpendicularly up from the upper face ofthe wheel. Pin 82 extends into the slot 73a.

A detent 83, seen best in FIG. 7, extends through the deck 71 and isbiased by a'spring 84, positioned between the deck 71 and a collar 85 onthe detent, into constant engagement with the wheel 74. a

In operation, a remotely positioned operator will control the watercraftby sharply pulling on a line 86 which is connected down through a mast,not shown to one end of the shift arm 75. Each pull rotates the shiftarm 75 around axle 72 until the arm engages a stop 87 fixed to the deck71. As the arm 75 rotates thedogs 77a and 77b engage oppositelypositioned cam notches and rotate the wheel 74. When the pull on theline 86 is released the spring 76, biases the arm back to the startingposition shown in FIG. 6, where the dogs will engage other oppositelypositioned abrupt cam surfaces.

When the arm 75 contacts stop 87, .detent 83 moves into a depression 81to hold the wheel against reverse rotation as arm 75 moves back to itsstarting position.

' During the return movement, the springs 79a and 79b allow the dogs topivot as they follow the curve of the periphery of wheel 74.

Arm 73 has one leg containing the slot 73a and another leg extendingnormal thereto, to which the rudder control rod 42 heretofore describedis pivotally connected. As the wheel 74 turns, the relative position ofaxle 72 and pin 82 change. Assuming the position shown in FIG. 6 to be astarting position, and with pin 82 at 9 oclock relative to axle 72, therudder control arm is positioned to hold the rudder in a straight travelposition. Rotation of wheel 74 one-quarter turn will move pin 82 to a 6oclock position and the rudder control arm will be pivoted to move therudder to a first angled position tending to. turn the craft in onedirection. Rotation of the wheel another quarter turn will move pin 82to a 3 oclock position where the rudder control arm is again in theposition shown in FIG. 7 and the rudder is positioned in the straighttravel position. Further cyclic rotation of wheel 74 will move the pin82 to a twelve oclock position, at which time the rudder control armwill be positioned such that the rudder will be in another angledposition, tending to turn the craft in an opposite direction. The samecycle of rudder positions is therefore obtained with both of the ruddercontrol means herein disclosed.

While specific indexing structures have been herein described and whilethe craft rudders, as described, are

. indexed sequentially through a straight drive, an angled as well beincorporated and that other indexing systems could be used.

In either embodiment of the invention, a bracket 90, having anattachment plate 90a and a pole support plate 90b is secured to thestern of the craft by bolts or the like, not shown.

The pole support plate is fixed to the attachment plate and extendsupwardly therefrom. Aligned holes, large enough to receive the butt endof a fishing pole are provided in each plate and the butt of a shortfishing pole 91, FIG. 2, is placed and held therein. Fishing line is letout from the secured pole before trolling isstarted with the craft or ifdesired, a conventional release mechanism, not shown, can be provided torelease the line after the craft is underway.

The craft is started, by operation of switch a or switch 15b and is sentin a desired direction of travel. Thereafter, the operator, by using afishing pole with a suitably heavy line attached to the indexingmechanism can steer the craft in any direction, including back towardshim. Sharp pulls on the control will change the rudder position as hasheretofore been described.

Although a preferred form of my invention has been herein disclosed, itit to be understood that the present disclosure is by way of example andthat variations are possible without departing from the subject mattercoming within the scope of the following claims, which subject matter Iregard as my invention.

1 claim:

l. A remotely steered troller comprising a flotation hull;

drive means for moving said hull in water;

means, including a rudder, for controlling the direction of travel ofthe hull in water; a single flexible control line; and means responsiveto repeated sharp pulls on the single control line to operate the meansfor controlling the direction of travel of the hull in water tocyclically change said direction of travel, said means includingindexing means for moving the rudder in sequence from a positionsteering the hull in a straight direction to a position steering thehull in a first turned direction, to a position again steering the hullin a straight direction, to a position steering the hull in an oppositeturned direction and to the position wherein the hull is steered in astraight line direction, said positions consituting a complete cycle ofchanges of directions of travel, a universallytiltable mast, meanscoupling the mast to the indexing means,

and means to bias said mast to an upright attitude. 2. A remotelysteered troller as in claim 1, wherein the indexing means comprises acam wheel rotatable in one direction; means to prevent inadvertantreverse rotation of said cam wheel;

means coupling said mast to said cam wheel whereby tilting of said mastwill rotate said wheel a predetermined amount; and

means coupling said wheel to the rudder whereby the angular position ofthe rudder relative to the hull is varied in accordance with therotational position of said wheel.

3. A remotely steered troller comprising 8 a flotation hull having acatamaran type bottom; drive means for moving said hull in water, saiddrive means comprising an electric motor battery means supplying powerto said motor and a propeller driven by said motor, said propeller beingpositioned at the stern of the craft between catamaran portions; meansfor controlling the direction of travel of the hull in water; a flexiblecontrol line; and means responsive to repeated sharp pulls on thecontrol line to operate the'means for controlling the direction oftravel of the hull in water to cyclically change said direction oftravel. 4. A remotely steered troller craft as in claim 3, wherein thecatamaran portions of the hull project only slightly from the rest ofthe hull at the bow of the craft but extend continuously furthertherefrom in the direction of the stern of the craft. 5. A remotelysteered troller craft as in claim 4, further including a cage beneaththe catamaran portions of the hull and surrounding the propeller. 6. Aremotely steered troller craft as in claim 4, wherein switch means areprovided to start and stop the motor at the bow and at the stern of thecraft. 7. A remotely steered troller comprising a flotation hull; drivemeans for moving said hull in water; means, including a rudder, forcontrolling the direction of travel of the hull in water; a singleflexible control line; and means responsive to repeated sharp pulls onthe single control line to operate the means for controlling thedirection of travel of the hull in water to cyclically change saiddirection of travel, said means including indexing means for moving therudder in sequence from a position steering the hull in a straightdirection to a position steering the hull in a'first turned direction,to aposition again'steering the hull in a straight direction, to aposition steering the hull in an opposite turned direction and to theposition wherein the hulll is steered in a straight line direction, saidpositions constituting a complete cycle of changes of directions oftravel,

an arm pivotable about a central axis,

means connecting the line through an upright mast housing extendingupwardly from the hull to one end of the arm,

a cam wheel mounted for rotation about the central axis and havingabrupt cam surfaces spaced around the periphery thereof,

means on the arm for engaging the abrupt cam surfaces to rotate saidwheel in one direction when the line is pulled,

means to prevent inadvertant rotation of the cam wheel in the oppositedirection,

means to limit rotation of the wheel when said line is pulled, and

means coupling said wheel and the rudder whereby the angular position ofsaid rudder relative to the hull is varied in accordance with therotational position of said wheel.

1. A remotely steered troller comprising a flotation hull; drive meansfor moving said hull in water; means, including a rudder, forcontrolling the direction of travel of the hull in water; a singleflexible control line; and means responsive to repeated sharp pulls onthe single control line to operate the means for controlling thedirection of travel of the hull in water to cyclically change saiddirection of travel, said means incluDing indexing means for moving therudder in sequence from a position steering the hull in a straightdirection to a position steering the hull in a first turned direction,to a position again steering the hull in a straight direction, to aposition steering the hull in an opposite turned direction and to theposition wherein the hull is steered in a straight line direction, saidpositions consituting a complete cycle of changes of directions oftravel, a universally tiltable mast, means coupling the mast to theindexing means, and means to bias said mast to an upright attitude.
 2. Aremotely steered troller as in claim 1, wherein the indexing meanscomprises a cam wheel rotatable in one direction; means to preventinadvertant reverse rotation of said cam wheel; means coupling said mastto said cam wheel whereby tilting of said mast will rotate said wheel apredetermined amount; and means coupling said wheel to the rudderwhereby the angular position of the rudder relative to the hull isvaried in accordance with the rotational position of said wheel.
 3. Aremotely steered troller comprising a flotation hull having a catamarantype bottom; drive means for moving said hull in water, said drive meanscomprising an electric motor battery means supplying power to said motorand a propeller driven by said motor, said propeller being positioned atthe stern of the craft between catamaran portions; means for controllingthe direction of travel of the hull in water; a flexible control line;and means responsive to repeated sharp pulls on the control line tooperate the means for controlling the direction of travel of the hull inwater to cyclically change said direction of travel.
 4. A remotelysteered troller craft as in claim 3, wherein the catamaran portions ofthe hull project only slightly from the rest of the hull at the bow ofthe craft but extend continuously further therefrom in the direction ofthe stern of the craft.
 5. A remotely steered troller craft as in claim4, further including a cage beneath the catamaran portions of the hulland surrounding the propeller.
 6. A remotely steered troller craft as inclaim 4, wherein switch means are provided to start and stop the motorat the bow and at the stern of the craft.
 7. A remotely steered trollercomprising a flotation hull; drive means for moving said hull in water;means, including a rudder, for controlling the direction of travel ofthe hull in water; a single flexible control line; and means responsiveto repeated sharp pulls on the single control line to operate the meansfor controlling the direction of travel of the hull in water tocyclically change said direction of travel, said means includingindexing means for moving the rudder in sequence from a positionsteering the hull in a straight direction to a position steering thehull in a first turned direction, to a position again steering the hullin a straight direction, to a position steering the hull in an oppositeturned direction and to the position wherein the hulll is steered in astraight line direction, said positions constituting a complete cycle ofchanges of directions of travel, an arm pivotable about a central axis,means connecting the line through an upright mast housing extendingupwardly from the hull to one end of the arm, a cam wheel mounted forrotation about the central axis and having abrupt cam surfaces spacedaround the periphery thereof, means on the arm for engaging the abruptcam surfaces to rotate said wheel in one direction when the line ispulled, means to prevent inadvertant rotation of the cam wheel in theopposite direction, means to limit rotation of the wheel when said lineis pulled, and means coupling said wheel and the rudder whereby theangular position of said rudder relative to the hull is varied inaccordance with the rotational position of said wheEl.